Pixel Finch Lavalier Microphone Review
I recently tested the Pixel Finch Lavalier Microphone for the Apple iPhone, which is Pixel’s latest professional omnidirectional microphone that is inexpensive and user-friendly for content creators.
Pixel produces a variety of extremely useful products for content creators looking for the right lighting and sound gear for all their filming needs.
In this article, we will dive in and take a closer look at the Finch Lavalier Mic to help content creators decide if this professional iPhone lav microphone is the right choice for capturing sound on a smartphone.
What you should know right off the start is the Pixel Finch Lapel Mic is built for an Apple iPhone that is connected through the Apple Lightning port at the bottom of the iPhone and is Apple MFi-certified.
This means that if your smartphone is not an iOS device, you won’t be able to use the Finch Microphone. That being said, if you are looking for an external microphone for iPhone to capture clear sound and is relatively cheap, then read on to find out why we enjoy this mic.
This post will break down the features, specifications, advantages, and disadvantages of the Pixel Finch Lavalier Microphone, so you can make your mind up on whether this external IOS lav mic is the right choice for your next project.
Pixel Finch Lavalier Microphone Review 2023
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Finch External Microphone for iPhone/iPad Video Recording Specs
- Type: Lavalier Microphone for iPhone/iPad
- Transducer: Electret Condenser
- Direction: Omnidirectional
- Frequency Range: 50HZ-20KHZ
- Sensitivity: -36dB ± 3dB
- Signal/Noise: ≥60dB SPL
- Cable length: 10 ft / 3 m
- Weight: 0.32oz/9g
- iPhone Compatibly: iPhone 6S/6S Plus/6 Plus/7/7 Plus/ 8/8 Plus/X/XR/XS/XS Max/11/11 Pro/11 Pro Max/12/12 Pro/12 Pro Max/12 Mini/13/13 Pro/13 Pro Max/13 Min
- iPad Compatibly: iPad Mini 4/iPad Mini (5th generation) iPad (5th generation and later)/iPad Air 2/iPad Air (3rd generation)/iPad Pro 9.7inch/iPad Pro 10.5inch/iPad Pro 12.9inch (1st and 2nd generation)
- Note:You have to unplug your microphone from your lightning devices such as your iPhone or iPad to hear your video/audio when playing the sound back.
What's included
- User Guide
- Lavalier Microphone
- Soft Pouch
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Easy To Use
- Good Audio Depth
- Durable Materials
Cons
- iOS required
- Mild Ambient Noise
Best Used For
- Film
- Streaming / Social Media
Pixel Finch Lavalier Mic Key Features
Apple Lightning Devices Friendly
The lightning connector of Finch lapel microphone for iPhone or iPad is identified by Apple MFi-certified. The certification represents Made for iPhone/iPod/iPad. So, you can be sure it’s safe to use. On the flip side, an external clip-on microphone without the certification may damage your devices.
What is MFi certification: *MFi (Made for iPhone/iPad/iPod) is the certification that Apple assigns to authorize manufactures to produce peripheral accessories for Apple devices. Apple accessories without MFi certification may cause unpredictable damage to your precious Apple devices.
Clear & Consistent Sound
To reproduce clear and consistent sound there embeds noise filter and cancellation chip inside the microphone for iPhone video recording. So the lapel mic for the iPad can weaken side noise and pick up every word you say. It also comes with a windscreen for those working outdoors to reduce any chance of wind affecting the capsule and causing unwanted noise on the recording.
Lightweight & Clip-on Mic
This small microphone weighs only 0.32oz, extremely portable that you even barely notice it is clipped on your shirt. The diameter of this lav mic is 0.43 inches at most. The ultra-small design makes the lav microphone for iPad unobtrusive and easy to seal into clothes for various applications.
Durable Design & Unlimited Creativity
The aluminum alloy housing of the lavalier mic for iPhone combines the benefit of a robust design with reliable protection against moisture. Besides, the Ultra-thin and heavy-duty cable gets as far as 10ft, long enough to empower your creativity to roam freely.
Battery-Free & Plug and Play
The clip microphone operates without any battery as recording devices provide plug-in power at the external lavalier microphone input. So, all you need to do is simply plug the clip mic for iPhone video recording into your lightning devices. You are all set to go.
Why I Like It
For someone who has purchased several lavalier microphones for recording audio on my iPhones over the years, I hated that I always had to use a headphone jack adapter for connection. The iPhone headphone jack adapter is small, and can easily get lost when you need them the most.
The Finch microphone has the simplicity of plug-and-play, which can get you up and running within minutes of opening the box.
The quality of the microphone is impressive for the price. It’s a fairly durable microphone with a decent windscreen built-in. If you are unaware of lavalier lapel microphones, they use clips to attach to your clothing that can be hidden insight without it moving.
As for the microphone cord, it’s made of nylon fiber cloth compared to the rubber cords you see on many lav microphones today. The reason I like the nylon fiber cloth cord compared to rubber cords, it’s able to withstand multiple uses without breaking.
But how is the sound quality? When you are filming videos using a smartphone’s built-in microphone, it tends to pick up all the sounds where you position your phone. That isn’t good for anyone trying to capture clean audio for vlogging, interviewing, or even during presentations.
This external lav microphone uses an omnidirectional condenser that boasts a frequency range of 50Hz to 20kHz. The sensitivity levels are excellent for capturing the body of your voice.
After conducting several tests with the Finch Microphone over the past few weeks I was impressed with the balance of frequencies in the voice recording for this price point. The bass offered a strong mid-range and a noticeable high-end. For those looking for a lav microphone for studio interviews and vlogging demonstrations indoors, the level of depth is very impressive for a microphone under $50.
Another thing I loved about the Finch Lav Microphone is how easy it is to travel with. Included in the kit is a little bag you can put the microphone in while you travel for those on-the-go shooting interviews or travel vlogging.
Who Will Find This Microphone Useful
Who should use a lavalier mic for a smartphone? If you are doing a lot of Live Streaming, Vlogging, Interviewing, and Recording with a smartphone, having a lavalier microphone is extremely useful for recording audio into your Apple device.
If you are looking for a cheap alternative to recording audio on a smartphone for any content creations, the Pixel’s Finch Microphone will fit the bill perfectly.
For me being an independent filmmaker primarily focused on short-form films, having the right professional audio equipment is important for me to capture the best sound possible. When I am shooting a project I have free access to top-of-the-line audio equipment like portable audio recorders and XLR microphones. But when I want to shoot a film guerilla-style with my smartphone, having a lightning-connected lapel mic that requires no extra equipment to get started is important.
With the Pixel Lavalier Microphone, you can take advantage of maintaining the subject without a large microphone getting in the way.
I would recommend using the Pixel Lavalier Microphone for film projects and social media videos because of the convenience of clipping the microphone to an article of clothing and plugging it into a compatible phone to capture the best sound available on a budget.
The Negatives
Of course with every product out there, they all can’t be perfect. While the issues I faced with the Pixel Finch Lavalier Microphone are minor, they should be mentioned.
The main issue I faced with the lapel mic is the background noise level and how it mixes with any voice recorded. If you speak loud enough & position the microphone correctly, your voice will overpower the background to achieve a clean audio recording.
But if you are far away from the mic, it may not help you achieve the pristine sound you want in your videos.
If you are thinking of shooting videos in which you are positioned longer than the attached cord can handle, you may want to look at getting the Pixel wireless lav microphone system.
But for the price of the Pixel Finch External Microphone, the level of depth in the recorded audio is incredible, and you won’t likely find another omnidirectional lavalier mic in this price range that doesn’t face the same issue.
Next, I want to repeat a point made at the beginning of this post, and that is the Pixel Finch Lavalier Microphone is only compatible with iOS devices. So for those android devices, this puts a big limitation on who can use the mic.
Summary
Overall the Pixel Finch Lavalier is a great deal for the price. Is it the best lavalier microphone? Of course, it won’t be. But for the price, it’s amazing how well the sound translates in recordings. Plus, the materials used to build this lav microphone are better than many of Pixel’s competitors today, even at a higher price range.
What do you think, are you going to give this lav mic a try? It’s perfect for those content creators just starting out, but looking to stay on budget. If you figure to give the Finch Omnidirectional Mic from Pixel a shot and buy one, let us know in the comments below how it’s performing for you!
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About the author: Trent (IMDB | Youtube) has spent 10+ years working on an assortment of film and television projects. He writes about his experiences to help (and amuse) others. If he’s not working, he’s either traveling, reading or writing about travel/film, or planning travel/film projects.
